In 2008, I predict Tiger Woods will:

• win 12 or more tournaments, passing both Ben Hogan and Jack Nicklaus on the all-time win list. Yes, I realize he only played 15 events in 2006 and 16 in 2007.
• win the Grand Slam (which would actually be 5 majors in a row)
• lower his scoring average from last year’s 67.79.
• go 2 for 2, winning the FedExCup
• break the streak for consecutive tournaments won, held by Byron Nelson with 11 in a row. Woods currently has won 4 in a row and 6 of the last 7 (his only loss was by one stroke).

Those are some pretty bold predictions, but Tiger has been unstoppable since August of 2007 and shows no signs of letting up. if anything, he’s been looking better and better in each tournament since then. After the Presidents Cup he went 2 months without touching a golf club and won the Target World Challenge with ease. I didn’t make any predictions regarding end of the year awards, because Tiger always cleans house.

Most of us agree this is going to be a big year for Woods, but will it be as good as I predict? I know I’ll be paying close attention.

While Tiger Woods isn’t exactly running away with the tournament today, but there really hasn’t been a question who is going to win. After not playing any competitive golf since September 30th and not even picking up a golf club until early December, many people wondered what Tiger’s game would look like. He answered those questions by setting the course record on Friday and following it up with the 2nd best score posted on Saturday to take a 6 stroke lead into today’s final round. Jim Furyk closed the gap in the middle of the round, but Woods is back in control.

It’s funny to listen to some of the commentary during the professional tournaments. For the pros it’s a bad break when they hit the pin and if they hit the wrong level of a green they missed their mark. Any time I can hit the flag stick I’ll take it. Most of the time when I hit a green anywhere, I have a better chance of getting in the hole with 2 more shots instead of having to chip before I take out the putter.

It’ll be the end of March or early April before the sticks get any use on a Michigan golf course, but I’m already getting the itch to play after watching some golf on TV.

• Keep my 9 hole scores starting with a 3 or 4. I don’t want to reach the half-century mark again this year.
• Break 80.
• Get a hole in one. (When isn’t this a goal for a golfer?)
• Break 40 more consistently.
• Keep a slower controlled swing.
• Talk Dad into making a trip to Ireland.

How did I do?

• After March 31st, when I posted those goals, I shot 10 nine hole scores in the 50s.
• I still have never broke 18. I’m sure I could have done it a few times after shooting a good 9 hole score, but didn’t play a second 9 a lot of those days.
• Still no ace on the scorecard.
• I broke 40 more than in 2006, but not more on a percentage basis.
• I was in control of my swing more than I ever have been.
• Dad is up for the Ireland golf trip. It will most likely be a few years down the road though

Not too bad, not too good. Chipping and putting was the key for me in 2007 and I sucked at it. It’s time to start working on goals for 2008.

I played a lot more golf, so I should have improved. Well, I did improve in nearly every aspect of the game. I finally found a driver I can hit with confidence off the tee box and my irons and wedges were more consistent than they’ve ever been. My golf game really struggled in the short game and we all know that’s where you score. I had one of my worst years with the putter and just couldn’t get into a groove all summer long.

My biggest goal for the 2008 golf season is to make a dramatic improvement in my putting. I’ve been thinking about taking some putter lessons and even getting properly fit for a putter. Has anyone ever been fitted for a putter? If so, any recommendations you can make when I’m looking for a place to do it?

Another thing that really helped my golf game this past year was a trip to Phoenix, AZ during the second week of February to take some training for work. This year I plan to go to North Carolina in February to visit some friends, so I think the golf clubs will be making the trip. I’m already looking forward to it now that I mentioned it!

The insert picture was taken at the 2007 Hackers Whackers - McDuff Open. We are standing behind the 18th green on The Heather golf course at Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs, MI.

What do you think of the new look?

If you ever have the chance to go see professional golfers in a tournament, do it. Watching some of the shots these guys can pull of on TV is great, but nothing compares to seeing it in person.

You can watch the pros warm up on the driving range and putting green. You can stand behind the tee box, watching them hit driver. You can camp out near a landing area and watch the pros make approach shots. You can sit around a green and watch them chip, hit out of the sand, and make putts.

There is only so much you can get out of watching golfers on TV. Seeing a professional hit a wedge out of the deep rough, spin it on the green, and stop it a few feet from the cup is only something you can really appreciate stand 5 feet away. It’s simply amazing.

I went to the Buick Open at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc, MI on Saturday and it reminded me how good the pros really are. I’ve been to the Buick Open probably a handful of times in the last ten years, but it’s always amazing to go back. It never gets old seeing these golfers hit bomb after bomb on the driving range, where we’d be lucky to hit a couple balls out of a bucket as good as they hit every single one.

Attending a golf tournament is unlike any other sporting event you can attend because you can walk around the entire course and watch whatever you want. You can get to within a couple feet of the players and offer them a high-five as they walk off the green.

Just trust me and go watch a golf tournament if you have the chance. It’ll be worth every penny.